Pinima Peacock Bass

fish description – Zebra Danio Care Guide (Danio rerio)

Category	Detail
Scientific Name	$Danio\ rerio$
Common Name	Zebra Danio, Zebra Fish, Striped Danio
Origin	Ganges region (India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh)
Adult Size	1.5–2 inches (4–5 cm)
Temperament	Peaceful, very active, surface-level schooling fish
Lifespan	2–5 years
Care Level	Easy (Very Hardy)

Export to Sheets

---

Appearance and Sexual Differences

Coloration: The body is slender and features characteristic five uniform, horizontal, metallic blue/purple stripes running the length of the body, alternating with gold or silver stripes.

Fins: Males have a more torpedo-shaped body and brighter colors, especially when spawning. Females are typically larger and rounder, with a noticeably fuller abdomen.

Behavior: They are highly energetic, fast swimmers that prefer the top of the water column. They are excellent dither fish and are very tightly schooling.

---

Tank Requirements and Water Parameters

Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons is the absolute minimum for a small school, but 20 gallons long is highly recommended due to their speed and need for horizontal swimming space.

Schooling: They must be kept in schools of at least 6-8 individuals. Keeping a large group reduces stress and keeps their chasing behavior focused on each other rather than tank mates.

Temperature: Tropical range: $64^\circ$–$74^\circ\text{F}\ (18^\circ$–$24^\circ\text{C})$. They prefer cooler temperatures than many tropical species.

pH Level: Highly adaptable: 6.5 to 7.5. They are extremely forgiving of varying water hardness, but prefer clean, well-filtered water.

Aquascape: Use fine sand or gravel, and arrange plants along the back and sides of the tank (e.g., Anubias, Java Fern). Provide ample open swimming space across the front and middle of the tank for their active schooling.

---

Diet and Feeding

The Zebra Danio is an easy-to-feed omnivore that readily accepts most foods.

Staple Diet: High-quality tropical flake food or small floating pellets.

Supplementation: Offer a varied diet including protein and vegetable matter. Include frozen or live foods such as Daphnia, Brine Shrimp, and chopped Bloodworms.

Schedule: Feed small amounts once or twice a day. They are surface feeders.

---

Compatibility

Caution: Their high activity level and speed can intimidate slow-moving or timid fish.

Good Tank Mates: Nearly all peaceful community fish, including other Danios, Corydoras, Rasboras, most Tetras (like Neons or Serpaes), and certain robust, peaceful Barbs. Their speed makes them suitable for tanks with small fin-nipping fish.